Methods and systems for enhancing firearm safety through wireless network monitoring

Abstract

A firearm includes a firing mechanism and a sensor. The sensor is configured for wireless communication over a short range RF network with a hub worn or carried by a user of the firearm. The hub includes a subscriber identity module configured to communicate with a server over a signaling channel of a wireless telecommunications network. The sensor is additionally configured to control an enable/disable mechanism in the firearm in accordance with instructions received from the hub.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system, comprising a sensor integrated with a firearm, the sensor configured for wireless communication over a short range radio frequency (RF) network, a hub worn on the person of a user of the firearm, the hub comprising one or more integrated circuits configured for wireless communication with the sensor over the short range RF network using a first transceiver and configured for wireless communication with at least one monitoring station over a wireless telecommunications network using a second transceiver, and the hub configured to monitor sensor state data of the sensor and transmit an alert over the wireless telecommunications network using the second transceiver upon determining that the hub is located in an alert area and upon being informed by the sensor that the sensor state data indicates one or more of: movement of the firearm, an attempted operation of the firearm, disabling of a safety of the firearm, removal from a holster of the firearm, and a change in mode of the firearm. 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hub is further configured to communicate with a plurality of sensors over the short range RF network, each of the sensors associated with a respective instrument. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to enable/disable operation of the firearm in accordance with instructions received from the hub. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring station comprises a computer aided dispatch system. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the firearm comprises an electroshock weapon. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the hub is further configured to communicate with a plurality of sensors over the short range RF network, each of the sensors associated with a respective instrument. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the sensor is configured to enable/disable operation of the electroshock weapon in accordance with instructions received from the hub. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the monitoring station comprises a computer aided dispatch system.